Question 1

What is natural carbon removal?

Accepted Answer

Natural carbon removal is removing and storing excess CO₂ from the atmosphere or oceans. Natural removal methods use the power of plants (sequestration by photosynthesis) and rocks (enhanced weathering, a story of its own) in combination with human ingenuity, like storing the sequestered carbon in buildings made from wood, straw, and more.

Question 2

Why is carbon removal necessary?

Accepted Answer

To reverse climate change, two things need to happen: reduce emissions, and remove the excess carbon dioxide. The United Nations scientific climate organisation, the IPCC, was again very vocal about that in their latest global assessment report, AR6, Chapter 12.

Question 3

What is carbon removal accounting?

Accepted Answer

Carbon removal accounting is measuring, modelling and administering of carbon dioxide that is taken out of the atmosphere. ONCRA focuses only on natural removal methods.

Question 4

What does ONCRA stand for?

Accepted Answer

Open Natural Carbon Removal Accounting.

Question 5

What are carbon removal credits?

Accepted Answer

Carbon removal credits are sold by Removers, who invest this extra income in actual natural removal. ONCRA considers carbon removal credits to be instruments to finance the necessary transition from a high emission, fossil based economy towards a regenerative society.

Question 6

What is the difference between carbon credits and carbon removal credits?

Accepted Answer

Carbon removal credits are a special type of carbon credits: they are issued for projects that actually remove and store carbon. There are three main types of carbon credits: avoidance credits (preventing emissions that would otherwise likely take place), reduction credits (shrinking an existing source of emissions) and removal credits (actually taking CO₂ out of the atmosphere and storing it). Removal credits are usually worth more, because actual removal is what is needed to reach net zero in the end. The reason ONCRA focuses on natural carbon removal is that we believe bringing back life is an integral part of reversing global warming. Also, Oxford University explicitly advises the use of removal credits, as they create much more reliability in terms of positive climate impact.

Question 7

What are Oncra Carbon Removal Units?

Accepted Answer

Oncra Carbon Removal Units are carbon credits for CO₂ that has been captured with nature-based solutions. That means they don't just store carbon: they also support biodiversity, soil health, water retention and a healthy living environment. They come in four categories: Land Stored Carbon (soils and biomass in agriculture), Ocean Stored Carbon (biomass cultivation and sinking at sea), Rock Stored Carbon (enhanced weathering and mineralisation) and Construction Stored Carbon (biobased building materials and buildings). The units are meant to raise funding for the transition to a new, regenerative system in these four categories.

Question 8

Do ONCRA Carbon Removal Credits account for more than carbon?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by default. ONCRA only accepts nature-based carbon removal projects. By performing a 'doughnut check' we evaluate if the project operates within the planetary boundaries and social foundations. Our projects all deliver 'multi-potent' benefits, which we wouldn't call 'additional', but central. Benefits like more biodiversity, clean water, meaningful jobs, are examples of how ONCRA credits tick many SDGs and results in a holistic approach.

Question 9

What do pre-validation, validation and verification mean?

Accepted Answer

These are the three stages of the Oncra certification process. At pre-validation, Oncra has assessed the project and listed it in the registry. The carbon removal still lies in the future, so certificates can be reserved or pre-purchased, and the buyer may claim to have contributed to expected future removal - not that CO₂ has already been removed. At validation, an independent certification body has approved the project plan, method and calculations, which gives buyers more certainty. At verification, an independent party has confirmed that the CO₂ has actually been stored: the units get the status Delivered, and only then may a buyer claim that CO₂ has been removed from the atmosphere. The further a project gets, the lower the risk for a buyer and the more sellable the certificates become. You can check the status of every project in the Oncra Registry.

Question 10

Is Oncra recognised under international standards like ICVCM and the EU CRCF?

Accepted Answer

Oncra is working towards admission to two international quality standards: the Core Carbon Principles of the ICVCM (Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market) and the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) of the European Union. A successful assessment increases the international recognition and sellability of Oncra certificates, but approval is only final once the institution concerned has formally granted it. CRCF recognition applies exclusively to projects within the European Union. The current application and assessment status is published on this website.

Question 11

What is different about ONCRA compared to for example Verra, or Gold Standard?

Accepted Answer

ONCRA is removal focused which enables it to be based on measurements. ONCRA is an additional framework, it enables and allows the use of existing methods developed by Gold Standard, Verra, and others. The ONCRA fee structure without upfront costs for the Remover lowers the threshold for carbon market entry. This way, we facilitate the growth of new removal companies and strategies in line with what the climate crisis needs.

Question 12

Why is ONCRA open source and peer reviewed?

Accepted Answer

We believe in the knowledge of the committed crowd, and in collective learning. We also believe that carbon removal accounting should be an accessible service, in order to facilitate more removal companies and strategies to succeed. Everyone should be able to review the original data, so with ONCRA measurement reports and ownership data is transparently available. Peer reviewed means that independent scientific advisors are invoked for all questions and uncertainties arising in project assessments and protocol development.

Question 13

Does offsetting help to reverse climate change?

Accepted Answer

We all have the responsibility to avoid that compensation offsetting is used as greenwashing. Airlines, oil companies and others claiming to be 'neutral' while only compensating their emissions do not contribute sufficiently to actually reverse climate change. ONCRA believes in supporting removers by the purchase of certificates and reporting on that after everything is done to reduce emissions, and to purchase actual removal certificates, as prescribed by the Oxford Offsetting Principles.

Question 14

Can anyone buy Certificates at your platform?

Accepted Answer

Yes, however buyers have to adhere to the Oxford Offsetting Principles. You must self-declare, when buying under 1000 CRCs through our platform, that you have done everything you can to reduce your emissions. When buying over 1000 CRCs we perform a Know-Your-Customer process, which means we will assess with you whether you comply with the Oxford Offsetting Principles. As currently the carbon removal market is a buyers' market, buyers with the least carbon impact get the first right to buy.

Question 15

What are the Oxford Offsetting Principles?

Accepted Answer

These are a set of four major rules to define proper offsetting. In brief, first buyers have to reduce their emissions as much as possible, carbon credits actually have to remove carbon (so use removal credits) and store it for a long time. Finally your actions must support the development of net zero aligned offsetting practices. Read more

Question 16

What is needed to submit a new project?

Accepted Answer

If you are growing, building, or stewarding land, you may already have a project worth certifying. ONCRA guides you through the process - from your first submission to your first issued credits. You bring the land and the intention; we take care of the accounting, the peer review, and the market access. Ready to find out if your project qualifies? Apply to explore the option.

Question 17

What is a carbon removal certificate worth?

Accepted Answer

The price is not set by the amount of CO₂ alone: the type of project, storage duration, location, verification status, co-benefits and the reputation of the remover all play a role. As a rough market indication: avoidance credits sell for €2-15, reduction credits for €5-30, nature-based removal for €20-150 and long-duration technical removal for €100-600. Oncra certificates have so far sold for around €78 on average. These are broad indications, not guaranteed prices - local projects with strong natural value, a visible story and reliable verification can sell above the market average.

Question 18

How do I sell my Oncra certificates?

Accepted Answer

Oncra is the certifier and registry keeper, not a sales organisation, and does not guarantee sales. The team can advise on status, suitable sales routes and the correct handling of a transaction. There are three common routes: selling directly to buyers in your own (local) network, selling through a broker or intermediary for a small commission, or using the certificates yourself to cover residual emissions elsewhere in your own organisation. More information and an overview of intermediaries Oncra works with can be found on our page for removers.

Question 19

What happens after a certificate is sold?

Accepted Answer

Record the quantity, price, status and delivery terms in writing, check whether it concerns potential or already delivered certificates, invoice the buyer, and report the transaction to Oncra via info@oncra.org. For sales of more than 1,000 units Oncra performs an additional buyer check. Oncra then processes the transaction in the registry: the certificates are registered in the buyer's name and, once used for a claim, retired, so they cannot be sold or used again. Every transfer of ownership must be recorded in the registry - otherwise there is a risk of double counting and the certificates lose their valid Oncra status.

Question 20

What if the stored CO₂ is lost later?

Accepted Answer

Stored CO₂ can sometimes be released again, for example through fire, soil disturbance or the demolition of a building. This is called a reversal, and removers must report an (impending) reversal to Oncra as soon as possible. To absorb this risk, Oncra maintains a collective buffer pool: Carbon Removal Units that are held apart and never sold. In case of a reversal - especially force majeure - Oncra can use the buffer pool to compensate the loss. If the remover is responsible for the reversal, Oncra can require the remover to arrange compensation. The buffer pool reduces the risk for buyers, but it is not an absolute guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Carbon removal basics

Credits & certificates

Certification, standards & integrity

Buying certificates

For project owners: selling certificates